Ethiopia

The Ethiopia WASH Alliance (EWA) is a consortium of NGOs and private organizations working on the enhancement of the wellbeing of people living in rural, pastoral and urban areas of the country. EWA’s partners are operating in Afar, Oromia, Tigrai Regional States, Dire Dawa City Administration and National Level. We work in 33 districts in these regions.

Programme priorities

EWA has elaborated the strategy for a period 2015-2020 based on a critical review and reflection with members and relevant stakeholders. The main pillars in the current strategy are:

Improved access to and use of safe water supply

Improved sanitation and hygiene practices

Improved livelihood of the communities through use of water supply for multiple purposes greater integration with other sectors

Improved dialogue, policy initiatives and change of practices.

Tamene Chaka

The strategies to achieve our objectives are:

1. Empowerment of Women and Girls
Girls are paying cost by having additional burden due to lack of access to improved WASH services. Conversely, women and girls are deprived from decision-makings regarding WASH related issues. To address the challenge, EWA emphasis to put women and girls on top of the WASH agenda with the view of empowering them at the same time ensure sustainability.

2. Linking WASH with other Sectors
In order to ensure the sustainability of WASH services and result in greater impact, the link of WASH sector with livelihood and climate change is fundamental. Hence, EWA applies methods and approaches in WASH program design and implementation to increase the integration with livelihood, food security and climate change.

3. Partnership and Promotion of the Private Sector
EWA promotes effective relationship and collaboration of with various organizations to promote and meet common agendas or goal based on the principles of mutual respect, accountability and shared purpose.

4. Capacity Building
The challenges of sustainability of WASH, particularly water schemes, are partly attributed to lack of capacity in the sector. EWA recognizes all rounded capacity is the means to an end. Therefore, major emphasis is given to develop capacities of the communities and stakeholders in the sector. Hence, EWA will work on to improve capacities through trainings, sharing of lessons and skills, and knowledge in the sector.

Our expertise areas

Rural and urban WASH

Institutional WASH

CLTSH

Rainwater Harvesting Technologies

Capacity building in WASH

WASH Financing

Business approach in sanitation (and linking sanitation with credit systems)